Approached by a cop

Originally posted by FiremanMike:
Just so you know Wyatt, when he pulled in behind you and ran your plates, he already knew you had a CCW, it is one of the first things that comes back when the dispatcher runs the plates through LEADS.
OH, I know that.

I also know that I don' thave to say anything unless I am actually in possession of a concealed handgun. There is no duty to notify if one is not carrying.
 
Sorry for the confusion, he was posting about a scenario in Ohio, where they do link it directly to driving info.

FWIW I believe LEADS is nationwide.
 
Mike-

Here in Central NY, we only have instant info on pistol permits issued in this particular county. The dispatcher alerts us like its a warning. Hah! With all the hoops one has to jump through to get a pistol permit in the State of New York, to me, it's more like a "heads up" that the person in question is of higher moral character than the average.
 
Originally posted by ZO6Vettever:
I don't see what is so wrong with telling a LEO you are legally armed at the onset of a stop.
I do. Aside from the fact that it brings up the subject of weapons when there is no particular reason to believe that that is the reason for the stop, it also marks you as someone whose focus is on weapons. Why?
I have nothing to hide.
Neither do I. No reason to hide it, no reason to volunteer it. Stick to the subject at hand.
We can proceed in whatever manner he wishes.
My point, exactly.
If I'm caught in a traffic violation I want to have the LEO as relaxed as can be..
Perhaps this might be achieved by behaving like a normal, law-abiding citizen, not like a law-abiding citizen who is so self-conscious about weapons or obsessed with weapons that he brings this unusual subject up by himself. Hint: Most folks don't do that.
I believe chances of a warning improve if you don't come off as a "I know my rights" guy.
Failure to bring up unsolicited oddball subjects does not mark one as an "I know my rights" guy.
 
After reading the whole thread, the only thing I can say is thank God I live in Indiana. Here, it is a license to carry. that means open or concealed. No requirement to inform officer unless directly asked. Oh yeah, the license to carry is now available in "lifetime" form for about $100 so you don't have to worry about renewals. Also, signs on businesses saying "no guns" have no legal power. If requested to leave, you must or it is trespass but nothing more. No gun registration, just the Federal form, pay your money and take your new baby home. Carry in State parks is also OK. Praise the Lord, Governor Daniels was just re-elected by a big majority. He also got a strong Castle Doctrain law enacted where forceable entry into your home is evidence of intent to harm the home owner and you can use deadly force to protect your family. It isn't perfect but we are working on it. Maybe someday others will follow this lead.
 
I've had a deputy ask me about my guns, and we talked about them some....but then, I was openly carrying a .45 22-4 on one hip, and a .38 Masterpiece on the other!
icon_biggrin.gif
 
armadillo is correct, Texas Criminal and Traffic Law Sec. 411.205 Displaying License; Penalty. (a) if a license holder carries a handgun on or about his person, he shall display both the license holder's handgun license and driver's license. Folks, if you fail or refuse, your license is subject to suspension. If you do it again, then you get hit with a Class B Misdemeanor. As a "in the final process of hire" as a peace officer, why wouldn't you want to volunteer that info. from the onset? Before entering the academy I was stopped several times for failure to obey posted speed limit(span of over 10yrs). I truely believe if I hadn't had my CHL and advised to LEO I was carrying or not, I would've been cited. No question about it! It's not a get out of a citation free card, but it does make you stand out from the rest of the general public that you are on the right side of the law. I will give the same respect to CHLer's as a peace officer that I myself received from officers in the past. Just my two cents worth on the subject.
 
Originally posted by jimbo-indy:
After reading the whole thread, the only thing I can say is thank God I live in Indiana. Here, it is a license to carry. that means open or concealed. No requirement to inform officer unless directly asked. Oh yeah, the license to carry is now available in "lifetime" form for about $100 so you don't have to worry about renewals. Also, signs on businesses saying "no guns" have no legal power. If requested to leave, you must or it is trespass but nothing more. No gun registration, just the Federal form, pay your money and take your new baby home. Carry in State parks is also OK. Praise the Lord, Governor Daniels was just re-elected by a big majority. He also got a strong Castle Doctrain law enacted where forceable entry into your home is evidence of intent to harm the home owner and you can use deadly force to protect your family. It isn't perfect but we are working on it. Maybe someday others will follow this lead.
Carrying in Ohio is a pain in the ass. Carrying in Indiana is a pleasure.
 
Dusty, you need a reality check. USSS SA's are trained to spot a person w/CCW however well concealed it may be.

As one who is experienced in dignitary protection I advised the SA of my CCW just in case she noticed or in the event another situation arose. Believe me when I tell you you don't want to be id'd as toting a gun when the POTUS is around. For the record, I was a LEO at the time and, like I said, familiar with protocols...and common sense.

Be safe.

And what's gonna happen if you're not break'n the law? Sure, they'll roust ya, put on the cuffs, make a lot of noise. Charge ya with a crime? What crime? If you're within the law then you're within the law. If you're not making any threatening moves then you're legal. The life of the POTUS ain't any more important than mine.
 
Originally posted by ZO6Vettever:
I don't see what is so wrong with telling a LEO you are legally armed at the onset of a stop. I have nothing to hide.

What's wrong is its obsequious kowtowing to authority. As for having nothing to hide, don't get the idea in your head that that's any kind of protection from legal authority. There are people sitting in prison right now who opened their mouths when they didn't have to because they "didn't have anything to hide". The corollory to that is "If ya ain't done nuth'n wrong then ya got nuth'n to worry about from the law." HORSE FEATHERS!!
 
A few weeks ago on my way to work at 4:30am I was stopped by one of our Local Barny Fife wanna bee deputy's, For not comming to a compleat stop at the intersection... As I was getting my Licence from my wallet he noticed my Ct. Carry permit in my wallet... since I live in NY he says "I see you have a Ct. carry permit, you know its no good here in NY" I just smiled and said "YES but my NY permit is". Then he asked if I was carrying this morning, I replied "Yes on the same hip I just pulled my wallet from". He handed me back my Licence and told me to make sure I come to a full stop nextime....

Bob
 
Originally posted by Dusty Miller:
The life of the POTUS ain't any more important than mine.
In theory you are right but you're probably the only one who thinks that. The president's security detail will not share your high opinion of yourself, trust me.
icon_smile.gif


Bob
 
Originally posted by Dusty Miller:
Originally posted by ZO6Vettever:
I don't see what is so wrong with telling a LEO you are legally armed at the onset of a stop. I have nothing to hide.

What's wrong is its obsequious kowtowing to authority. As for having nothing to hide, don't get the idea in your head that that's any kind of protection from legal authority. There are people sitting in prison right now who opened their mouths when they didn't have to because they "didn't have anything to hide". The corollory to that is "If ya ain't done nuth'n wrong then ya got nuth'n to worry about from the law." HORSE FEATHERS!!

Dusty, I don't see it as "kowtowing", in my 61 years I've not been hassled by a LEO so I feel it's better to be up front. When I reach for my wallet my hand is mighty close to my weapon and I don't want a LEO getting jumpy if he should see it print. To each their own.
 
Well said, Boom, but your post still won't convince some folks...like the guy who thinks the US Secret Service would like to be surprised by seeing evidence of CCW. Or the folks who think cops like to see guns "accidentally."

Be safe.
 
Originally posted by ZO6Vettever:
Dusty, I don't see it as "kowtowing", in my 61 years I've not been hassled by a LEO so I feel it's better to be up front. When I reach for my wallet my hand is mighty close to my weapon and I don't want a LEO getting jumpy if he should see it print. To each their own.

I can see your logic, and, in my opinion, it applies well in your case. On the other hand, when a policeman approaches my car, both of my hands just happen to be on the wheel, usually with my wallet in one. If not, my wallet is in my upper left shirt or vest pocket, and my hands don't disappear when I take it out. I have never put my hands anywhere near a gun when stopped by police, and I will continue to arrange both my possessions and my habits so that I don't start doing it in the future. Therefore, I consider guns an unsolicited oddball irrelevant and possibly incendiary subject to be brought up at a traffic stop. While I fully recognize that there IS merit to the argument that it shows I'm a good guy, I still feel that that slight benefit could be outweighed very dangerously in the case of the occasional idiot who reacts strangely.

If I did choose to inform the policeman, I would do it kind of low-key, like handing him driver's license, LTC, and car registration WITHOUT COMMENT, saving my replies for actual questions.

JM$.02

520
 
I haven't been stopped since I got my CCW but our instructor stressed to disclose to any LEO if you are carrying. I have always made a point of keeping my hands on the wheel and/or in plain sight during any traffic stop. I always ask permission to reach into the glove compartment to retrieve my registration/insurance.

LEO's have a tough enough job without me doing anything to make them nervous. Maybe this is why the last three times I was stopped for speeding, and was dead bang guilty every time, I drove off with just a friendly reminder to keep the speed down. Being nice doesn't cost anymore and often pays dividends.....as in no ticket.
 
Stopped for speeding.

When the officer came to my window, I handed him my paperwork .. all of it.. drivers license, registration, ccw permint. He asked if I had my firearm on me, I said yes. He asked where it was, I told him. He asked me to keep my hands on the wheel while he took care of things. He was very nice, I was very nice. He came back handed me my stuff back and said to slow down. No ticket!!
I think he was a S&W guy!
icon_wink.gif
 
Originally posted by Capt Steve:
I haven't been stopped since I got my CCW but our instructor stressed to disclose to any LEO if you are carrying. I have always made a point of keeping my hands on the wheel and/or in plain sight during any traffic stop. I always ask permission to reach into the glove compartment to retrieve my registration/insurance.

LEO's have a tough enough job without me doing anything to make them nervous. Maybe this is why the last three times I was stopped for speeding, and was dead bang guilty every time, I drove off with just a friendly reminder to keep the speed down. Being nice doesn't cost anymore and often pays dividends.....as in no ticket.
In Ohio, we HAVE to notify, IF WE'RE CARRYING, so there's no question.

On the other hand, if I know I'm somewhere where I know I don't, I won't. Not too long ago, a guy from North Carolina was stopped in Fairfax County, VA for allegedly not stopping for a stop sign. Since in NC you have to notify, he did in VA. The police proceeded to falsely arrest him on a variety of charges, including "having hollowpoints", "crossing state lines with a loaded firearm", and "carrying a concealed weapon" (because allegedly there was no reciprocity between NC and VA, even though there actually is). When he was brought before a magistrate, the magistrate plainly stated that the man had been falsely arrested. The police claimed that they couldn't verify the man's license. The magistrate easily verified the license while they stood there. The man was released, but even then he had to argue with the police to get his firearm back. I believe he's suing Fairfax County and the police officers now. There's a long write-up of the incident on the Virginia Citizens Defense League site.

This guy tried to make the cops' job easier and was abused six ways to Sunday for it. That's why I say obey the LAW, nothing more, nothing less.
 
I happen to know the police chief in a adjacent town, so I asked him if he would want to be told if a driver he stopped was carrying. In general, he said "no".

He did say that if he were to ask the driver to step out of the car for any reason, that it would probably be a good idea to inform him prior to getting our that you were carrying and where the weapon was.

jeff
 
Back
Top